Never Stick Your Hook Where It Shouldn't Go

So, here I am on Saturday evening on AMF’s living room floor with all of my motifs laid out. I’ve got this great pattern thing going on, I’m liking how the burgundy motifs aren’t taking over the entire project color-wise, I’ve written down the pattern changes and hey, I’ve even taken pictures of it!

Just in case I forget, you know.

See, my memory is composed of very odd bits and the like all strung together, and I only remember certain things.

I can tell you when and where the late-but-great Donny Hathaway recorded the ultimate live version of “In The Ghetto” (1973, in Japan, recorded for a British release and available as an import), or how to solve algebra, geometry and certain calculus problems.

So, here I am with two motifs laid out on my living room table. I’m ready, I really am! I’ve got the t-pins ready, I’ve found the perfect complementary yarn that’ll work for the sewing and the border stitching, I’ve lined up the two motifs and all I need to do is just connect the seams, stitch to stitch, and I’ll be golden!

Right?

Wrong!

Where the bloody hell does this go? Does it go here or there? Where do I insert the t-pin, and why isn’t this lining up correctly? Oh, wait…if I do this…I got it!

And then, I attached the third motif…and realized that I was picking up the wrong stitch during the sewing, and then I looked back and saw that all I did the first time was, well, wrong, too.

Rip, rip, rip.

Oh, well…tomorrow’s another day and another chance to learn.

I've Always Loved a "Wawa"!

For those of you who don’t live in the southern area of New Jersey near Philadelphia, you won’t understand what the significance of a local “Wawa” means.

See, it’s not a “Quick Chek”, or even a 7-11 with much better coffee.

Your local “Wa” is a much beloved regional stop for milk, newspapers, hoagies (Philadelphian for “subs”), the best coffee in the world and pretty much anything else that you might need…it’s truly “one-stop-shopping”.

And, if you’re lucky enough to fine a “Wa” with a gas station…you’re also going to find some amazing gas prices, too.

I love a “Wa”…always have. They’re always clean and friendly…

And, then today, it wasn’t all about the “Wa”…’tis all about the people that were staffing it as well as the people that were there who made me stop and think.

So, I’m at this “Wa” that I always stop by on my way back from AMF’s place in Oaklyn down in Runnemede. It’s a sort of low middle-income area right outside of Camden and Philadelphia in a mixed residential area, and this African-American gentleman walked in to get some coffee.

I’ve seen this before…all of the “white folk” drew back (I don’t know why), and he was right behind me, asking for directions to the “Franklin Museum”.

Well, that would be the “Franklin Institute”, so I helped him out.

I was the only person in the Wa who was willing to give him directions, and I still don’t know why.

“Thank you so much! Can you write them down for me?” Sure, just let me find a napkin and ask for a pen at the counter.

Ladies and gentlemen, the last time I checked the year, it was 2006…and, do you know…everyone avoided us? I mean, walked “around us”? The 41 year old white girl in the “Eagles” hoodie and the 50-something African-American with the wild hair?

“Here you go! Oh, and don’t forget…the Philadelphia Marathon was run earlier this morning, so that area around the Institute’s going to be a mess.”

“Thank you so much!”
Cheers, mate…have a great time.

A Crafter's Idea Of Fun!

<< Well, since there’s nothing that I like more than following the crowd, I’d like to announce that I’ll be creating an exploratory committee myself so that I can run for “Crafter-In-Chief”!

I know, I know…I don’t have enough experience, but I feel your pain…really, I do!

I understand how painful it is to crochet a motif only to find out that you’ve added an extra double crochet, which will not become part of your work, but just may become a perfectly crafted coaster!

Consider variety yarns, my friends!

And, if you’re just learning how to knit, once again, I feel your pain!

We’ve been told for years that knitting should become second nature to all of us, and that crocheting is the “poor sisters’” craft. No longer, my fellow crafters, no longer!

I’ll make sure that crochet is in the forefront of all of us crafters, so that I can enlighten us all.

Thank you for all of your support…oh, and you? You really need to drop those huge knitting needles…as well as those tapestry needles…oh, no! Don’t do that! They only work in embroidery! Stop that…now! Those women are from the “Origami Coalition”, and…stop that, now! Don’t destroy their folding paper!

Okay, enough…I’ve just found a bunch of seed beads in my wine, and all of you need to stop, right now!

Enough, everyone…we all need to calm down, and “take a powder” and relax a bit.

There’s an open bar over to your left, and dinner will be served soon. Please enjoy both, and we'll talk tomorrow.

I hope. >>

About "Crafting"

The active verb “crafting” now seems to embrace the entire world of knitting and crocheting, scrapbooking, sewing, working needlework with beads so infinitesimally tiny that I’d need another pair of glasses to see the pattern correctly.

However, I’m on the verge of completing my first project…it’s a “cat blanket”, and guess what…I’m about done with those crocheted motifs, and now I get to learn how to put them together, and do a nice edge to make it look really cool.

I’m a “crafter-in-progress”, I guess. My first inclination would be to sew all of my motifs together with a tapestry needle, but I think I’m going to try the single crochet method instead, just to learn that skill.

Which would give me “Crafter Creds”, yo! ;)

And, then I’ll have to get back to my original project…that giant Queen sized-bed afghan that I’m making for my boyfriend with "Koigu"...handpainted superwashed merino wool.

It’s the same motif, it’s just smaller work with a tinier hook, but that’s all good.

Anyway, while I’m working on putting my cat blanket together, I’ll be taking pictures, and posting the results here, so keep a look out if you’re another “crafter-in-progress”!

I know I’m going to make mistakes, but that’s half the fun of creating something.

Well, now that the whole holiday season is upon us, we’re all being bombarded by media chefs who all want to show us how to cook, LOL!

And, when I think, “Well, show me how to do this!”, I’m talking about true cooks…people who know their way around a chef’s knife, who take the time and the effort to search out the best seasonal ingredients, know what to do with them, and take the time to educate us on what a wonderful meal should be.

I’m talking about Mario Batali, Emeril (love him or hate him, he’s one of the best), Sara Moulton, Tyler Florence, Ming Tsai, Ina Garten, Martin Yan and even Alton Brown.

Why? Because they’re all about working with great, fresh ingredients…the mark of a good cook is the ability to make a great meal out of all of the ingredients you already have on hand.

But, they’ve got to be the best, and this makes sense. Mario’s going to tell you to get the best cheese and pasta in the world, both Sara and Ina are big on fresh produce and bread, and I’m with both Ming and Martin when it comes to shopping in Asian markets and in Philadelphia’s Chinatown when I’m looking for Asian ingredients.

What I cannot stomach are these “wanna be” cooks, like Rachael Ray and that Sarah person who does “Semi-Homemade”, since these women don’t cook.

Do I take shortcuts? Of course I do…we all do, LOL!

But, would I buy a package of frozen chopped onions or a jar of minced garlic instead of chopping an onion or mincing some garlic myself? Of course not...that has to be fresh, you know.

Okay, toss these two silly "so-called" cooks out of the window, and think about what you can buy and cook now...think about what you can make in advance and freeze for the holidays (think about cookies and desserts, and breads and breakfast cinnamon rolls, and casseroles).

Buy the best stuff that you can possibly can, and "make it work" as Tim Gunn would say!

And...let's get started again!

So...I'm back, and blogging and better than ever!

I think.

'Tis been a tough couple of months...I've always said that I'd never blog about my family, but let's just say that we've been put through the mill for the past month or so, and everyone is fine, thank you very much.

And, what started as a "vacation" way back in August has now turned into a "full assault" job search. More about that tomorrow.

I've also turned into a crafter, so I'll be posting pictures as I move along with my crochet projects and picking up those knitting needles!